Who is called as dependent in the eyes of the law?

According to Workmens Compensation Act, 1923 [Section 2(d)]

"dependent" means any of the following relatives of a deceased workman namely:

(i) a widow a minor legitimate or adopted son an unmarried legitimate or adopted daughter or a widowed mother; and

(ii) if wholly dependant on the earnings of the workman at the time of his death a son or a daughter who has attained the age of 18 years and who is infirm;

(iii) if wholly or in part dependant on the earnings of the workman at the time of his death-

(a) a widower

(b) a parent other than a widowed mother

(c) a minor illegitimate son an unmarried illegitimate daughter or a daughter legitimate or illegitimate or adopted if married and a minor or if widowed and minor

(d) a minor brother or an unmarried sister or a widowed sister if a minor

(e) a widowed daughter-in-law

(f) a minor child of a pre-deceased son

(g) a minor child of a pre-deceased daughter where no parent of the child is alive or

(h) a paternal grandparent if no parent of the workman is alive;

Explanation : For the purpose of sub-clause (ii) and items (f) and (g) of sub-clause (iii) references to a son daughter or child include an adopted son daughter or child respectively.

Employees State Insurance Act, 1948

[Section 2(6A)]

"dependant" means any of the following relatives of a deceased insured person, namely,-

(i) a widow, a minor legitimate or adopted son, an unmarried legitimate or adopted daughter;

[(ia) a widowed mother;]

(ii) if wholly dependent on the earnings of the insured person at the time of his death, a legitimate or adopted son or daughter who has attained the age of eighteen years and is infirm;

(iii) if wholly or in part dependent on the earnings of the insured person at the time of his death,-

(a) a parent other than a widowed mother,

(b) a minor illegitimate son, an unmarried illegitimate daughter or a daughter legitimate or adopted or illegitimate if married and a minor or if widowed and a minor,

(d) a widowed daughter-in-law,

(e) a minor child of a pre-deceased son,

(f) a minor child of a pre-deceased daughter where no parent of the child is alive, or

(g) a paternal grand-parent if no parent of the insured person is alive,